May 21, 2013 - A Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
successfully completed its first test flight
this week with a package of performance
improvements including enhanced GE engines. This
package is designed to improve the fuel
efficiency of the popular jetliner.

With Boeing Flight Test and Evaluation Capt.
Kirk Vining and Chief Pilot Capt. Mark
Feuerstein at the controls, the airplane took
off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. at 1:30
p.m. local time and landed at Boeing Field in
Seattle approximately four hours later.

"It was a great flight and the engines performed
as expected," said Capt. Vining. "This is an
important milestone for the flight test
program." The airplane Performance Improvement
Package (PIP) includes improvements to the
GEnx-2B engines and Flight Management Computer
(FMC) software.

Boeing's continuous efforts to improve the 747-8
family have resulted in an accumulated 1.5
percent gain in fuel efficiency since the first
airplane was delivered less than two years ago.
These new improvements will give operators an
airplane that is an additional 1.8 percent more
efficient.

"These improvements are a part of our commitment
to continually improve our great airplanes for
our customers," said Eric Lindblad, vice
president and general manager of the 747
program. "Improving fuel efficiency by another
1.8 percent saves the airlines approximately one
million dollars per year in fuel per airplane
and reduces the carbon footprint."

The test program will also validate the design
changes and demonstrate the operation of the
horizontal tank fuel system on the passenger
version of the 747-8, which was deferred from
the initial deliveries. The new configuration
will first deliver in early 2014 and be
available for retrofit. Entry into service of
the new engines and FMC software will take place
in late 2013.

The Boeing 747-8 is a wide-body jet airliner. Officially
announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the fourth-generation
Boeing 747 version, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned
wings, and improved efficiency. The 747-8 is the largest
747 version, the largest commercial aircraft built in
the United States, and the longest passenger aircraft in
the world.
The 747-8 is offered in two main variants: the 747-8
Intercontinental (747-8I) for passengers and the 747-8
Freighter (747-8F) for cargo. The first 747-8F performed
the model's maiden flight on February 8, 2010 with the
747-8 Intercontinental following on March 20, 2011. In
August 2012, confirmed orders for the 747-8 totaled 106,
including 70 of the freighter version, and 36 of the
passenger version. Delivery of the first freighter
aircraft occurred in October 2011; passenger model
deliveries began in 2012.